Scientific name: Melitaea cinxia

Named after Lady Eleanor Glanville who first found the butterfly in England in the 1690s.

Orange and brown chequered butterfly with pattern of cream and orange bands and black marks on the underside of wings. The Glanville Fritillary is virtually restricted to coastal landslips on the southern half of the Isle of Wight and on the Channel Islands along with a few coastal locations on the mainland.

The status of the butterfly appears to have changed little in recent decades, though there has been some loss of habitat due to coastal protection measures. However, there are only a handful of core breeding areas and it remains a vulnerable species.

Size and Family

Family – Fritllaries, Duke of Burgundy

Small/Medium Sized

Wing Span Range (male to female) – 41-47mm

Conservation status

Listed as a Section 41 species of principal importance under the NERC Act in England

UK BAP status: Priority Species

Butterfly Conservation priority: High

European Status: Not threatened

Protected in Great Britain for sale only

Caterpillar Foodplants

The main foodplant is Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata). Buck's-horn Plantain (P. coronopus) is used occasionally as a secondart foodplant by final instar larvae.

Distribution

Countries – England

Restricted to the Isle of Wight

Distribution Trend Since 1970’s = Britain: -71%

Habitat

There are two habitat types: Coastal grasslands either on undercliffs, deeply incised coastal river valleys with eroding sides, or cliff tops; and south-facing chalk downland. There are eighteenth century records from woodland clearings in eastern England.